Zak – alumnus update

Zak came to Transition 2 to develop his self-management, vocational and independent travel skills in order to pursue his goal of securing employment.

Throughout his first year at Transition 2, Zak was supported to learn how to travel home from college on two buses as well as from college to a long-term, sustainable work placement and the gym. Through a well-supported and very gradual process of travel training, Zak gained the self-confidence, self-assurance and practical skills required to complete these journeys independently. Throughout the learning process Zak embedded multiple functional skills including literacy, numeracy, money-management and geography, as well as crucial aspects of self-management such as staying safe, looking after his personal belongings and learning to communicate using a mobile phone.

As part of his vocational learning, Zak secured a work placement at his local library through our collaboration with the vibrant Local Area Coordination team in Derby. As well as developing his vocational skills he also widened his social network and developed links with supportive members of his community through having lunch at a café around the corner from his workplace. Colleagues at the café and library had in effect become part of Zak’s circle of support and another means by which he can be known and safe in his own community, through natural safeguarding mechanisms. Zak’s family are delighted at his success and feel reassured that local people are ‘watching out for him’ whilst he is out and about.

“Not only has Zak become more confident with everyday activities, but even his social skills have increased. These changes in how he engages with other people are evident in the home too and I am very appreciative for the work that everyone has put in.” Zak’s Mum commented.

Upon completion of his programme at Transition 2, Zak had secured voluntary roles at the library and a charity shop to which he travelled independently. He also transitioned to a catering course with the YMCA and, since completing this, is now volunteering there. Zak refers to the YMCA as “a hotel for learning”.

A more confident and happy young man, Zak has recently worked with family and Transition 2 to source and secure a flat of his own, where he now lives independently. At a recent presentation in which Zak shared his outcomes with Governors, Zak commented “after college it was a new beginning” and shared that his advice to other young people working towards independence would be “you keep practising and keep going, then you know what to do!”